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Other posters on the social network have also chimed in to say their devices are appearing to be warped as well. The speculation from those with misshapen consoles is that the extra power needed to output video footage is causing overheating.

Nintendo has not yet commented on the issue. WIRED has contacted the firm asking it to address the issue and will update this story once a response has been received.

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It isn't the first issue the new console has been beset with since its launch.

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The Nintendo Switch has launched to a warm reception, but as gamers get their hands on the console in large numbers, it's attracting criticisms, too. The most pressing grievance is that the Nintendo Switch will not let you backup save data, either to a memory card, cloud storage, or direct transfer to another console. This is particularly troublesome given the portable nature of the Nintendo Switch. Lose your console while travelling, or have it stolen, and your progress is unrestorable. It's a fairly baffling move on Nintendo's part, too. Both the Wii U and the 3DS allowed players to back up their save files, making the function's absence here a strange omission.

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The inability to back up or transfer data also presents a potential storage issue in future. As Nintendo states in its FAQ, all save data, be it for cartridge based games or downloadable titles, is stored on the console itself.

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The Nintendo Switch only has 32GB of internal storage, and around 6GB is used for the OS. Unless Nintendo patch in the ability to move saved data to the memory card, there could come a time where you'll need to delete your progress in older games to make room to save newer ones.

Nintendo told Kotaku: "At this time, it is not possible to transfer save data from one Nintendo Switch system to another."

"At this time" could indicate plans to address the issue in future, either by aforementioned patch or, potentially, by introducing some form of cloud storage as part of the upcoming Nintendo Switch online service. At this point, Nintendo has given no information on its online plans beyond supporting multiplayer, though.

/u/Tropiux, Reddit

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Other issues have been reported with the Switch hardware – most commonly a tendency for the left Joy-Con controller to de-sync. This causes a loss of control, as the left controller moves characters, or a lack of responsiveness. The issue seems somewhat random. Of the two consoles WIRED has access to, the error only occurs on one of them.

The Day One patch for the console appears to have solved the issue for some owners, but it persists elsewhere. Nintendo has addressed the de-synchronisation issue in its troubleshooting guide, and aside from common tips (make sure the controllers aren't running out of charge, or you're not too far from the base unit) it also suggests signal interference could be to blame.

Nintendo advises owners not to place their Switch behind their TV or near aquariums or behind metal - both potentially capable of disrupting or blocking signals - and not "within three to four feet of another wireless device, such as a wireless speaker or a wireless access point."

Nintendo also told Polygon: "We have received some reports and are looking into it. As with all Nintendo video game systems, we will continue to monitor the performance of Nintendo Switch hardware and software, and make improvements when necessary."

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Dead pixels could also be a problem for a small number of Nintendo Switch owners. Gizmodo cites reports of stuck or dead pixels on the tablet's 1280x720 LCD screen, but Nintendo itself doesn't appear overly concerned.

On the UK support site, Nintendo says: "Small numbers of stuck or dead pixels are a characteristic of LCD screens. These are normal and should not be considered a defect."

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Sadly, this is a bit of a non-answer from Nintendo. More perfectionist owners will be displeased by dead pixels even if they are a "characteristic", but short of replacing the entire console - and losing your save data in the process - there's no way around the issue.

It's not all bad news, though - Nintendo has packed a charming Easter egg into the Nintendo Switch's Pro Controller. The more traditional joypad, which is made of semi-opaque plastic, has a hidden message tucked under its right thumbstick.

Pull the stick down and squint under the plastic and you should see it - a tiny message that reads "thnx2 allgamefans!" It's a nice little nod from Nintendo to its fanbase, even if many will never see it.